Business Directories

Saudi plans new drive against illegals

Riyadh, August 6, 2014

Saudi Labor and Interior ministry officials have announced a plan to to intensify inspection of documents of foreign workers against residency law violations, a report said.

Documents can be inspected not only at work places, but also on streets, the Arab News report said quoting officials.

A statement issued after the meeting of officials also warned Saudi employers against allowing their employees to work for other firms, saying they would face stiff punishment for labor-related offenses, it said.

“Employers should inform authorities about absconding workers, as well as expats doing illegal jobs in order to avoid punishment,” it said, adding that employers of illegals would also face punitive action.

Individual employers who allow their workers to work for others or for their personal accounts will be fined SR15,000 and deported (if expat), and banned from recruiting new labor for one year, the report said.

Expats overstaying their visas after they have expired will be fined SR15,000 and deported the first time, while second-time offenders will be liable to pay SR25,000, spend three months in jail and face deportation. Third-time overstayers, meanwhile, will incur a SR50,000 fine, a six-month jail term and deportation, the report said.